Fuse cutout operating tool



March 20, 1962 BRIDGES ETAL 3,026,391

FUSE CUTOUT OPERATING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29. 1958 March 20, 1962 f R. P. BRIDGES ETAL 3,026,391

FUSE CUTOUT OPERATING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1958 nited States ate 3,026,391 FUSE CUTOUT OPERATING TOOL Ronald P. Bridges and Thomas E. Curtis, Centralia, Mo., assignors to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Oct. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 770,383 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-114) This invention relates to fuse cutout operating tools, and with regard to certain more specific features, to such tools for mechanically breaking fuse links in such cutouts in elevated positions thereof.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a portable cutout operating tool which is adapted to interrupt normal load currents without damage to the cutouts; the provision of a tool of the class described which provides for convenient opening of the cutouts and for current interruption with complete safety to the operator of the tool; and the provision of a tool of this class which is widely applicable to a variety of cutout designs without the need for any design changes therein. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which 'will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of which will be indicatedin the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the-invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating an open type of fused cutout in closed position and showing application of our new tool thereto; a

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail side elevation viewed from line 22 of FIG. 1, the tool being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a detail transverse section of the lower parts of FIG. 1 shown on an enlarged scale and showing an initial action of the tool;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken-away side elevation illustrating the positions of parts immediately succeeding a fuse separation with expulsive action;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to the lower portions of FIG. 5, showing final positions of parts after completion of expulsion;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the new operating tool;

FIG. 8 is a detail section taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 9 is a detail cross section taken on lines 99 of FIGS. 3 and 7.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A fuse cutout normally opens under overload conditions which cause fusing and separation of its fuse link. This automatically instigates drop-out action. It is sometimes necessary that a line be disconnected at a cutout by manually opening it under normal load conditions. If this is attempted to be accomplished by opening its contacts without drop-out action (fuse link intact) an arc will likely be drawn between contacts, resulting in their deterioration or possibly under peculiar circumstances in their destruction. Heretofore mechanical link breakers in some instances have been built into the cutout linkages, but these make them complicated, unwieldy to "ice because the jerking manner in which the force was applied did not always reliably result in separation, and, moreover, tended to jolt the cutout mounting undesirably. In addition, the lineman at the other lower end of the pole carrying the hook was in a somewhat dangerous location below the resulting blast of hot gases engendered upon fuse separation and drop-down action. By means of the present invention these objections and difficulties are overcome.

A typical fuse cutout to which the invention applies will be described first. Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown at numeral 1 a conventional form of insulator mounting upon a bracket 3 and having clamped to its ends upper line terminal portions 5 and 7, respectively. The lower terminal portion 7 is provided with a hood-forming member 9, the lower sides of which extend outward to form open-sided bearings 11. Under the hood is bolted a leaf spring 13 (see bolt 15).

The open-sided bearings 11 are adapted removably to receive transverse gudgeons 17 of a lower rotary contact member 19. The latter is formed with an eye 21 and an engaging portion 23 for contact with the spring 13 when the gudgeons 17are in the bearings 11 and the member 19 rotated anticlockwise (FIGS. 1-4). The contact member 19 also has a screw 25 and a knurled nut 27, forming a screw terminal. Pivoted at 29 to the contact member 19 is a lower fuse tube support 31 which is attached to the lower end of an insulating fuse tube 33, the latter being open at its bottom. 'A stop 35 limits relative movements between members 19 and 31. j

Pivoted on and under the member 19 by means of pin 37 is a link ejector arm 39. Ejector 39 is pivoted on pin 37 at a bifurcated portion thereof for the reception of a biasing spring 41, the ends of .which react between the member 19 and the top of the ejector 39, so as to bias the ejector clockwise. At its outer end the ejector 39, is provided with a transverse finger 43 and also a'depending finger 45 to form guide means for placement of the accessible flexible lower end 47 of a fuse link 49 extending from the tube 33. The lowermost end of this fuse link is attached conductively to the member 19 by the screw terminals 25, 27.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, reference will be made to the form of the upper line terminal portion 5. This has the shape of a hood 51 under which is located a biasing leaf spring 53 and a spring catch '55; Parts 53 and 55 are held in place by a bolt 57. On the upper end of the tube 33 is attached a .hollow terminal-engagingelement 59 which has a terminal-engaging extension 61 for contact with the spring 53, as shown in FIG. 1. Extension 61 is formed as a hook 63 adapted to be held by the catch 55 when the-switch is closed. In order to release the catch from the hook 63, a forked arm 65 is pivoted at 67 on the terminal 59. The unforked end 'of arm 65 is formed as an eye 69 for engagement by the end of a linemans operating stick. The other forked end surrounding element 59 has lifting'portions 71 for engagement with the catch 55 to effect release when the eye 69 is pulled down. The upper end of the hollow terminal 59 is closed by a screw cap 73 which also holds in place the usual upper head 75 of the fuse link. The link also has a fusible portion 77 handle, and costly. In order to overcome these objections and difliculties, linemen have sometimes resorted to applying a hook on the end of a linemans stick, over the fuse link where accessible-or exposed at the lower end of the expulsion tube and yanking or jerking down, so as to break the fuse link. This was an unsatisfactory procedure calibrated to fuse upon predetermined conditionsof overload-induced heating.

The assembly comprising tube 33, parts 59 and 31 thereon, and the pinned members 19 and 39, may be removed from the lower line terminal parts 7 and 9 by removing the gudgeons 17 from the bearings 11 when the parts are near the pendant position shown in FIG. 6, the gudgeons 117 having flats 79 to allow passage through the bearing openings 2. Then the lower flexible portion 47 of an unfused link is fed through the fuse tube 33 from the top, the head being held in contact position by pole in any desired angular 3 screwing on the closure cap 73. This anchors the fusible element 77 at the upper end of the tube 33. Then the parts 19 and 39 are folded into their positions shown 1n FIG. 1, being so .held by locating the lower flexible fuse portions 47 in position under the ejector 39. The end of the link at this time is stretched and fastened by means of the screw terminal 25, 27. The resulting assembly is then reapplied with the gudgeons 17 located in the bearing s 11. It is then rotated into the closed position shown in FIG. 1, wherein the catch 55 latches with the hook 63 and the ejector finger 39 tensions the fuse link. Upon overload, the fusible element 77 melts. Its end portions separate as expulsive gas is formed. The ejector 39 rotates clockwise to draw the lower fuse portions 47 out of the tube, link ejection being facilitated by the blast of the resulting hot gases projected from the lower open end of the tube. This removes the holding action on the parts 19 and 39, so that the fuse assembly 33, 19 and 39 collapses, first dropping down to open the latch 55, 63 and then rotating loosely to the position illustrated in FIG. 6.

The above description of the cutout in its operation relates to known structure. It is the purpose of the tool now to be described to permit opening of the circuit under nonoverload but expulsive conditions by mechanically breaking the fuse link to instigate similar drop-out action. The only other method of opening the circuit would be to pull down on the eye 69, thus opening the latch 61, 55 and/then rotating outward the rigid assembly 33, 19, 39 so held by the unfused link 49. This would have the disadvantages stated above. The tool is shown in general at T and consists of a lever 81, preferably double-curved as-shown at 83 and 85, to form extensions 87 and 89, respectively. The result is an S shape, in general. For maximum strength and lightness, the lever preferably has an inverted U-section such as shown in FIG. 9. The lower extension 87 is provided with a T head 91, also of inverted U section, as appears in FIG. 3. This T-head constitutesv a rocker adapted for rocking engagement with the lower line terminal, andmore particularly with the lower edges of the bearing extensions 11. The tool extension 87 is also provided with a catch member 93, held in place in a boss 4 by. a pin 95. This catch member is formed as an upwardly extending cone having a transverse hook 97 which may conveniently be brought into position to hook over the ejector arm 39.

'The other tool extension 89 is formed with an eye 99 for cooperation with an eye 101 of a swivel member 102, the eyes being forced together in against a resilient fric- 7 .tion washer 103 sandwiched therebetween. The friction holding force is provided by a nut and bolt, as shown at 105; swivel member 102 is also slotted,'as shown .at 107, and radially serrated as shown at 109. At 111 is shown a linemans pole, composed of insulating material. At its upper end is attached a conventional ,eye member 113 which is also radiallyserrated around a hole therein, as shown at 115.

k Its conventional swivel bolt is shown at 117. The swivel member of the tool may, by means of the slot 107, be brought into any of various positions in relation to the eye member 113 and angled into any desirable transverse position. Upon tightening the swivel bolt 117, the tool becomes position as determined by the relationship between serrations 109 and 115. The slot 107 allows removal of the tool from the pole 111 for application to the pole of other tools when desired, such as a hook for cooperating with the eyes 21 and 69. The

9 eye 21 permits of applying such a hook, so as to lift the fuse assembly for application of the grooves 17 to the bearings 11, and the eye 69 is used for closing purposes after such application...

In FIG. 1 the swivel member102 is shown applied tot he eye 113 of pole 111. It is then adjusted to a suitable angular position such as shown at A, which inv'iew V of the resilient coupling afforded by the eyes 99, iti iand mounted on the' 4 interposed resilient washer 103, will be maintained :for lifting purposes. Hence the tool is held sufficiently stiffiy on the pole to be lifted from ground level with constrained guidance so as to place its hook 97 over the link ejector arm 39. This places the T-head 91 of the tool under the bearing extensions 11. Then by pulling down on the pole 111, rotation against friction occurs around bolt and a fulcrum is obtained at the T head 91. The downward motion of the hook 97 and ejector 39 occurs as shown in FIG. 3. This stresses the fusible element 77 of the link which breaks, as shown in FIG. 5. The ejector ever 39 snaps clockwise from under the hook 97 (allowing the tool T to pull away) and draws the lower fusible portion 47 of the link from the tube 33. Since the operator is standing to the side and not under the cutout, gases which are at this time ejected, as shown by the arrow 119' in FIG. 5, will be directed away from him; The final positions of switch parts are as shown in FIG. 6, the tool having been drawn aside.

Among the advantages of the invention is the fact that the link-breaking tool does not form a part of the cutout or fuse tube structure, which would complicate it and increase cost. Besides, separability of the tool from the cutout allows it to be used on various cutouts and also 7 allows it to be arranged for the double-swiveling action,

around the two bolt connections 105 and 117. This action permits optimum positioning of the tool relative to whatever position the cutout has. It is to be noted that the angle such as shown at A is frictionally maintained in view of friction washer 103, and that angle B is rigidly maintained. The dotted alternate position lines shown in FIG. 8 show how the tool may be transversely angled on pole 111. The free fulcrum provided between the T-head 91 and the lower end of the cutout allows prompt drawing aside of the tool at the time the link is broken, so that the cutout parts mayfall out in the usual manner. The wide range of adjustability of the tool on the pole 111 .(note angles A and B) allows the tool also to be applied conveniently by linemen in many peculiar positions on poles, cross arms, etc., relative to various cutout locations.

Another advantage lies in the substantial mechanical advantage obtained by the relatively great distance between the fulcrum afforded by T-head 91 and the downward thrust or force of pole 111, as compared to the relatively small distance between said fulcrum and the for the purpose of describing the invention, it is to be.

understood that it is applicable also to so-called closed cutouts. Some cutouts, whether open or closed, employ a so-called drop-down action. instead of a drop-Quinction. The invention is applicable to both, and the term drop out is intended herein to refer to both. 7

It may also be noted that, although most fuse cutouts have ejector levers such as 39, in some instances they do not. In such cases the lower portions 47 of the fuse links are exposed. It will be understood that the tool is applicable to such constructions because the force-applying hook 97 can as well be applied directly to the fuse link as to an ejector 39 such as shown herein. 7

In view of the above, it. will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. I I v As various changes could be made in the aboveconstructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descriptignor shown in the "accompanying draw- 'ings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

tive lower terminal members; said breaker comprising a portable lever separate from the cutouts, said lever comprising a rocker adapted at one end for removable rock ing engagement with various ones of said lower terminal members, means at the other end of the lever adapted removahly to support it on a linemans pole, and a rigid transversely extending hook means on the lever at a location between said supporting means and said rocker at an elevation above the rocker adapted to be hooked over the exposed part of a fuse link when said rocker engages a terminal member, said support means being constituted by a friction swivel adapted stifily to support said lever with respect to the pole for support as an extension adapted for constrained guidance from the pole and application of the rocker under a lower terminal and said hook means above an exposed portion of a fuse link, said friction swivel being adapted also to afford rotary movement between the lever and the pole when said support means on the lever is pulled down by the pole to force the rocker up against a lower'terminal member and to force the hook down on a fuse link to break it.

2. A mechanical fuse link breaker for fuse cutouts in which parts of their fuse links are exposed below their expulsion tubes, the latter being pivoted upon gudgeons between transversely spaced bearings; said breaker comprising a portable lever separate from the cutouts, said lever comprising a rocker at one end in the form of a T-head adapted for removable engagement with the undersides of said spaced bearings, friction swivel means at the other end of the lever adapted to support it on a linemans pole, and a rigid transverse hook on the lever above the T-head and at a location between said supporting means and said T-head, said hook being adapted to be engaged over the exposed part of a fuse link when said T-head rocker engages beneath a pair of spaced bearlngs.

3. A mechanical fuse link breaker according to claim 2, wherein said lever is of generally S-shape between said rocker and said swivel means, said hook being located upon the top of the lower end of said S-shape.

4. A portable curved lever member for breaking the fusible element mounted in the expulsion tube of a cutout that has .a flexible conducting cable that extends downwardly from said fusible element and out through the lower end of said expulsion tube where said cable is pulled downwardly by an ejector member to place a predetermined tension on said cable and on said fusible element, said cutout having a lower terminal member to which said expulsion tube is pivotally connected, said curved lever having a rocker means on one end and a transversely pivotal support means on the other end which is adapted to connect to a linemans stick and permit variation of the angular inclination of this axis of said linemans stick to the axis of said curved lever when said linemans stick is pulled downward along a straight path, and an L shaped hook member on said lever adjacent said rocker means and positioned to extend upwardly from said lever with the hook arm of said L member extending transverse to the axis of said lever to permit the insertion of said hook arm over said ejector member of said cutout and the moving of said lever to engage the rocker means against the lower surfaces of said lower terminal members to bring said lever into operative engagement with said cutout, said pivotal support means further comprising a frictional swivel that is adapted to stifily support said linemans pole while the positioning of said lever is being accomplished but being further adapted to afford rotary movement between the lever and the pole when said pivotal support means on the lever is pulled down by the pole to force the rocker means to pivot against the lower terminal members and force the hook down on the ejector member to increase its pull on the cable to cause said cable to break said fusible element attached thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 606,070 Neeb June 21, 1898 2,310,466 Schultz et al. Feb. 9, 1943 2,379,433 Hemmerling July 3, 1945 2,630,508 Meisenheimer et a1 Mar. 3, 1953 2,720,410 Smith Oct. 11, 1955 2,735,911 Sant Feb. 21, 1956 2,737,551 Curtis et a1 Mar. 6, 1956 

